We were lucky to catch up with Valentina Piombi recently and have shared our conversation below.

Valentina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Aquí tienes la traducción actualizada al inglés:

My first acting class was when I was sixteen years old. I arrived at that small space not knowing what I would encounter. A mix of adrenaline and fear was what I felt when I introduced myself to the group. The first years of this long profession consisted of a lot of trial and error. Without knowing it, I was not only discovering a new form of art but also uncovering a new part of myself. Like many other people, I am a perfectionist. That was a problem because I was in pursuit of an unattainable perfection. Although I wouldn’t change anything about my path as an artist because, thanks to all I have experienced, I am where I am today, I would go back to my sixteen-year-old self to tell her that it’s okay to make mistakes, it’s okay to try new things without the expectation of the outcome. Today, after many years of practice, I can say that I no longer constantly seek this perfection (or at least most of the time). This has allowed me to be more creative and have more freedom when it comes to composing and discovering a new character.

Performing arts is a lifelong journey, where there is always room for improvement. You will always encounter new obstacles, but the beauty lies in learning to overcome them while enjoying the process.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I am the oldest of three sisters and we come from a family where art is not so fundamental. From a young age, I always looked for ways to express myself; I took dance classes, singing lessons, and musical theater courses, but it wasn’t until my first acting class that I began to question if this was more than just a hobby. I was in my last year of high school when I sat down with my parents and told them about the decision I had made. I was going to be an actress. I wasn’t sure how they would react because, as I mentioned before, my parents do not have much interest in the arts. To my surprise, their support was constant from day one. I couldn’t be where I am today without them.

I finished high school, and while all my friends went to university to study law, marketing, medicine, I went to university to study performing arts. At university, I found a new world. I learned so many things that I still think abbout today when approaching a new project. My experience in Argentina was more centered around theater. After five years of studying various fields of theater, I graduated and decided to move to New York to continue my studies at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Moving to New York was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. This new school not only allowed me to practice everything I had learned in my hometown but also led me to explore new techniques for reaching new forms of expression.

The Strasberg Institute introduced me to acting in front of the camera. Although the acting method is the same, the language between theater and film is completely different, and the more encounters I had with the camera, the more I wanted to delve into it. Today, I find myself participating in more film projects, and it’s something I enjoy a lot; however, theater acting will always have a special place in my heart.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Since I began my journey as an artist, I can’t imagine doing anything else. It took many years in which I learned many lessons, but above all, I discovered different versions of myself that I am sure would have remained hidden if I had not found art. Through theater, I released a sensitive part of myself, a creative part, a curious part.

We are fortunate as actors to bring different characters to life throughout our profession. In my opinion, art is fundamental to human life. Movies formed a large part of my childhood; I remember one of the first times I went to the cinema with my family and left the theater feeling invincible. If I am able to make a child feel that way, my goal is fulfilled.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

This might be funny, but I think the most important thing I had to unlearn is that vulnerability is a sign of weakness. From a young age, I built a protective barrier around myself to shield me, and I found it very difficult to open up and express my feelings. When I began acting, this way of thinking slowly started to crumble. That’s why I am so grateful for acting. Contrary to what I thought as a child, vulnerability is a sign of courage; it is what makes us human and allows us to relate to and empathize with others.

I remember a class from my first year of university where the professor allowed us to present a piece created entirely by the students. I spent weeks writing the monologue, developing the character, thinking about the costume and set. The day of the presentation arrived, and my nerves were through the roof because I not only wanted it to be perfect but also because it was a piece that revealed a very personal part of me. It was difficult, I won’t deny it, but I felt immense happiness when I finished the monologue.

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• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valentinapiombi/